Buckle



(No Model.)

C. G. BLUE.

BUCKLE.

No. 453,541. Patented June 2,1891.

WITNESS/ CS /N VENTOH A TTOHNEYS we News rs1-ms co., wow-uwe. wAsHwmcw, n. c.

iTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. BLUE, 0F PLEASANT IIILL, IWIISSOURI.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,541, dated June 2, 1891. Application tiled February 5, 1891. Serial No. 380,257. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs GIDEON BLUE, of Pleasant Hill, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Buckle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of buckles for harness and other straps which have a sliding tongue, and has for its objects to produce a buckle of this description in which the tongue can be easily introduced within the frame and shall have a free movement thereon, and into which buckle the strap end can be readily introduced and will be securely held thereby.

The invention consists in details of construction and arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingr drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of two strap ends connected by my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the same on the line 44 in Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views, respectively, of the buckle-frame and the sliding tongue detached.

The buckle A, which is shown in the drawings as uniting the free end of a haine-tug B with one end of a trace C, consists of an open rectangular frame D and of a tongue E, which is essentially U-shaped, or in the form of a rectangular open-ended frame. The frame D consists of the side bars c, which are rectangular in cross-section and curved upwardly at their forward ends c', where they are united by a dat cross-bar d, which is rounded on its forward edge. The side bars c are united at the rear end by a round crossbar e. From the sides of the frame D, adjacent to the crossbar e, extend outwardly, upwardly, and over the sides of the frame the lugs f, which form retaining-guides for the tongue E and stops to limit its rearward movement.

The sliding tongue E consists of two side bars g; rectangular in cross-section, which bars are united at their forward ends by a fiat cross-bar h. The under forward corner of the bar 7L is rounded, as shown. The ends of the bar 7L extend beyond the sides of the bars f to form stops t. Centrally of the cross-bar h extends upwardly therefrom the stud or pinj. The ends of the bars g of the tongue E are entered beneath the lugs f of the frame D and the tongue slid downward upon the frame, the stops t' preventing rearward disengagement thereof by contact with the sides of the lugs f.

In use, the end of the haine-tug B being secured by stitching to the cross-bar c of the frame D, the end of the trace C is passed into the frame beneath the cross-bar d thereof and over the cross-bar 7L of the tongue E. The end of the trace is then passed into the loop or keeper 7o on the haine-tug and the trace flattened down on the buckle, which will cause the study' to enter one of the holes Z in the trace end. Tension now being applied to the trace, the tongue E will slide forward on the frame D until the stops t come against the upwardly-bent ends of the side bars of the frame and the cross-bar 7L of the tongue against the under side of the trace, and as the trace is held from upward movement by the cross-bar d of the frame E further forward movement of the trace is prevented and the parts are securely held.

A buckle-guard F, provided iu its forward end with a loop or opening m, is attached to the under side of the hame-tug B and extends forwardly beneath the buckle. The trace end, before being entered into the buckle, is passed through the loop m, which holds the guard in place.

This buckle has no permanent attachment between the tongue and frame, thereby reducing friction. At. the same time the tongue is securely attached and held with freedom of movement, and owing to the open connection of the parts there is but little chance for fouling by dirt or other foreign matter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,witl1 a rectangular open frame having its side bars curved upward at the forward end, so that its forward cross-bar will be in a plane above that of the body of IOO the frame and having stop-lugs at its rear end extending outward, upward, and over the side bars of the framepf a sliding tongue consisting of side barszunder the said stop-lugs and united by a forward cross-bar, the ends of which extend to form stops which abut the upward curved ends of the buckle-frame, and a stud projecting upward fromthe said cross-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame Dj consisting of the side bars c, upwardly curved at the forward end and united by the forward cross-bar d, the rear cross-bar e, and the stoplugs f, of the sliding tongue E, consisting of the side bars g, the cross-bar h, uniting the bars g, the stops i, and the stud j on the crossbar 7L, substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES G. BLUE.

Witnessesu FLORIAN HAUCK, ROBERT HAUCK; 

